Oxymoronica
October 13, 2004
As I was browsing the web, I ran across an ad for a very intriguing book -- Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths, by Dr. Mardy Grothe. It was so impressive, I immediately ordered it!
Dr. Grothe offers the following definition:
Oxymoronica (AHK-see-mor-AHN-uh-kah) n.
"Any compilation of phrases or quotations that initially appear illogical or nonsensical, but upon reflection, make a good deal of sense and are often profoundly true."
To tease you a little, here are some samples:
“A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” – Thomas Mann
“I love being a writer. What I hate is the paperwork.” -- Peter De Vries
“It is not at all simple to understand the simple.” – Eric Hoffer
“Free love is too expensive” – Bernadette Devlin
“Knowledge is the knowing that we cannot know.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.” – Eric Hoffer
“All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
“There are some ideas so wrong that only a very intelligent person could believe them.” – George Orwell
“A man by himself is in bad company.” -- Eric Hoffer
“A normal adolescent isn’t a normal adolescent if he acts normal.” -- Judith Viorst
“The efforts which we make to escape from our destiny only serve to lead us into it.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I thought these might be a refreshing way to think about paradox for a change. What do you think? Which one did you enjoy most?
I like:
“The efforts which we make to escape from our destiny only serve to lead us into it.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It reminds me of something a co-worker said yesterday when we were discussing the concept of fate. I'm not sure who originally said it, but she quoted it:
"A man's fate is his character"
~ keith
Posted by: Keith Seckel | October 13, 2004 at 10:34 AM
This sounds like a great book - I may have to pick up a copy.
Posted by: methodius | October 13, 2004 at 11:00 AM
Emerson on having all his good stuff stolen by the ancients made me laugh out loud!
May I add one of my own?
"Church work would be great if it weren't for all the people..."
(Please don't tell my congregation I said that!)
Posted by: Daniel | October 13, 2004 at 11:20 AM
“It is not at all simple to understand the simple.” – Eric Hoffer
This is how I feel about Christianity. Reading that we are to be imitators of Christ is pretty simple. But actually being like Christ is not simple at all.
Posted by: Luke | October 13, 2004 at 01:53 PM
“When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.” – Eric Hoffer
I think this is one of the most under-acknowledged truisms I've ever heard.
Posted by: Chris(tine) | October 14, 2004 at 12:43 PM
Awesome! This Englism major is intrigued andmust go find the book now :-)
Posted by: Anna | October 28, 2004 at 04:21 PM